Mid-America Messenger-Winter 2022

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVES

PSALM 91:1

As Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary continues her 50th year of ministry, the faithfulness of the Lord is still on display. Our Founders’ Days Bible conference in August was a blessing, and we have many awesome students who are learning to serve the Lord and doing wonderful things in sharing the Gospel with our community.

One of the most encouraging things for me this fall has been the witnessing activities of our students. Each Tuesday at 11:00 a.m., we gather in Chapel and share witnessing testimonies of the week. One recent week, the students reported sharing the Gospel with 26 people, and they saw five people pray to receive Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. While we know that the Lord does the saving, it has been wonderful to hear that people are being saved each week as our students share. While our online students cannot be present in person to testify, they too are doing a great job spreading the Gospel message!

THESE RESULTS ARE SO ENCOURAGING. are desperately lost, and our students are making a difference. Because of the pandemic, many ministries had to restrict their activities, making it difficult for our students to participate in our Witness One:Seven program. Since all our Seminary students are required to share the Gospel each week with the Word of God in a genuine attempt to win people to Christ, it is important that we find ways to contact lost people on a regular basis. Many churches were not able to do outreach during the last few years,

which reduced the witnessing opportunities. Now, praise the Lord, doors are opening, and lost people are responding.

Very few places in the United States are seeing numbers of people saved, so these results tell me that the Lord is up to something wonderful. If you would like to be a part of an evangelistic ministry where you are helping people come to Christ, consider supporting Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. We need prayer partners and financial supporters. We are praying for the Lord to do a mighty work here in the next weeks, months, and years, and we need you to join with us in taking the Gospel to the nations. Why not pray today and ask the Lord how you can be a part of this wonderful ministry? To all the world for Jesus’ sake.

MICHAEL R. SPRADLIN, PHD PRESIDENT, MID-AMERICA SEMINARY AND COLLEGE

“One recent week, the students reported sharing the Gospel with 26 people, and they saw five people pray to receive Jesus Christ....Very few places in the United States are seeing numbers of people saved, so these results tell me that the Lord is up to something wonderful.”

VOLUME 50, NUMBER 2

Published by Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary and The College at Mid-America

PhD

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF LIGHT

Mid-America began our year-long celebration of 50 years of Lighting the Way through our focus on Bible, missions, and evangelism— to all the world for Jesus’ sake.

INVESTING IN THE NEXT 50 YEARS

We’re not just looking back; we’re looking forward to a bright future. Mid-America has launched a new plan to help continue “Lighting the Way and Advancing Our Mission.”

GREAT COMMISSION MAP AND COMPASS

Our new Missions Department Chairman, Dr. John Charping, maps out the course for fulfilling the Great Commission through biblical church planting.

MEET OUR STUDENTS

We’ve got a great crop of students this year. Find out what our students say excites them about attending Mid-America.

BIBLICAL COUNSELING

It’s been an outstanding summer for Mid-America’s Biblical Counseling program. Find out what’s new, and what it’s all about.

SEVEN NEW DEVELOPMENTS

Mid-America’s Chief Development Officer Van Gray gives a preview of what 2023 holds for MidAmerica—and it’s more good news!

50th Anniversary Celebration Kicks off at Founders’ Days

Mid-America launched our year-long celebration of a half century of Lighting the Way at our annual Founders’ Days, August 16–18, 2022. In celebration of our 50th Anniversary, we enjoyed a special line-up of speakers plus the unique kind of worship you experience only at MidAmerica’s Chapel. To help us celebrate this special occasion, Mid-America welcomed Southern Gospel artists Ernie Haase & Signature Sound as musical guests. It was a wonderful opportunity to hear the musical giftings of this Grammy-nominated, Dove Award-winning group. We thank God for 50 years of prioritizing the Bible, missions, and evangelism at our beloved institution!

Ernie Haase & Signature Sound presented a mini-concert on opening night.

Dr. Mikey Mewborn was installed as Dean of the Seminary.

Dr. Brad Thompson played sax in the orchestra. Dr. Spradlin was on trombone.

New professor Dr. David Allen signed the Articles of Belief along with the rest of the faculty.

INVESTING IN A 50-YEAR LEGACY OF FAITH: FUNDING ANOTHER 50 YEARS

OUR PRESIDENT’S VISION FOR LIGHTING THE WAY INTO THE NEXT GENERATION

BY MICHAEL R. SPRADLIN, PHD PRESIDENT, MID-AMERICA

Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary has faithfully served the Lord for 50 years of ministry. Through difficult days and glorious moments, we have seen the Lord’s hand provide for His school in so many wonderful ways. While this is not the place to recount each of those amazing moments, we do thank the Lord for so many who faithfully labored, prayed, supported, and encouraged this ministry through the years.

Now we turn the page to the next chapter in the ministry of Mid-America. The need is greater than ever. Empty pulpits dot our landscape, and spiritual compromise is everywhere. More than ever, we need biblical truth and uncompromising convictions. Our God is faithful, and He owns the cattle on a thousand hills! I am reminded of the time in 2 Kings 6:8ff where the servant of Elisha was distressed when he saw that he and Elisha were surrounded by an enemy army. Elisha prayed the Lord would open the servant’s eyes to the truth that, “They that are with us are greater than they that are with them.” Elisha prayed, not for deliverance but that the Lord would open his servant’s eyes to the presence of the mighty army of the Lord.

My friends, today we need to pray that the Lord will open our eyes to His glorious truth. Yes, the days are growing “gloriously dark” as Dr. Adrian Rogers used to say. The political

climate is bad, the days of COVID severely discouraged many believers, the economy has struggled, but this is no time to retreat. We serve a mighty Savior, and we will continue as long as we have breath or until He returns to take us home.

I AM ASKING YOU TO JOIN ME IN PRAYER for our new MidAmerica campaign. We have so many requests for help and we have done all that the Lord has directed us to do, but now it is time to build for the future. We have a wonderful campus that meets all our needs, and we have housing for our students that is second to none. The Spirit of God is moving among our MidAmerica family in wonderful ways. Our students are leading people to Christ every week so far this school year! Just in the last month we have had reports of over 30 professions of faith, just among those who have publicly testified. This does not even include the reports from our many online students who are also doing a great job of regularly sharing the Gospel.

Dr. B. Gray Allison always said that Mid-America is more than a school, it is a soul-winning ministry. In his days as president, he even challenged the students to begin giving monthly to support the ministry of Mid-America. My wife and I accepted that challenge and, even though we thought we could barely afford it, we began contributing monthly to MidAmerica and have continued to do so for well over 30 years. Our monthly contributions have increased through the years, but the joy has been there no matter what the amount was.

So, I need every Spirit-filled, committed, Jesus-loving believer to join me in asking God for $5 million to fund the future of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. The Lord has placed on my heart to ask us to begin with prayer, simply beseeching our Savior to bring glory to His name in this ministry. We want all the praise and honor to go to our Lord Jesus!

Here is what I would like you to pray for with me. Pray that the Lord will touch the hearts of His people to support financially this ministry. We will pray together until the needs are met.

To illustrate, you can pray for:

1 person who will commit a one-time gift of $1,000,000

3 people who will commit a one-time gift of $500,000

5 people who will commit a one-time gift of $100,000

10 churches who will commit $12,000 per year ($1,000 per month)

20 churches who will commit $1,200 per year ($100 per month)

50 churches who will commit $600 per year ($50 per month)

100 people who will commit $12,000 per year ($1,000 per month)

200 people who will commit $1,200 per year ($100 per month)

500 people who will commit $600 per year ($50 per month)

1,000 people who will commit $180 per year ($15 per month)

WHAT WILL THE MONEY BE FOR? The list is lengthy. It includes upgrades to our facilities, scholarships for our students, taking care of our fantastic faculty and staff (we have the finest faculty and staff in theological education), and many

other needs. If you have a specific interest, please let us know.

If you are already a donor to Mid-America, then thank you! We want your continued prayers and support. If the Lord impresses you to increase your support, then praise the Lord in advance!

AS WE PRAY AND THE LORD RAISES UP THE NEXT GENERATION OF SUPPORTERS FOR MID-AMERICA, know this, the success of this campaign means that more churches will have a Bible-believing, Jesus-loving pastor. More missionaries will be trained to take the Gospel to the nations. And more lost people will hear the Gospel through the witnessing of our students. When more people hear the Gospel, then more people will pray to receive Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.

This is a Heaven-sized goal, but I believe that this is the right time. I want to close with a poem by our founder, Dr. B. Gray Allison.

I thought at the close of day Of the word not spoken, To those I met on the way Whose very hearts were broken.

I thought of the man I’d met Whose spirit was crushed, broken, And my heart beat in me sore For the word not spoken.

I thought of the friend who’s lost, Whose very soul is broken, And my conscience still condemns me For the word not spoken.

GIVE NOW!

If you want to invest in a ministry that is actively leading souls into the Kingdom weekly plus equipping the next generation of preachers, missionaries, and leaders, we believe there is no better investment than Mid-America. Give online now at mabts.edu/give or scan the code at right to make your one-time or recurring gift today.

From Personal Evangelism, by B. Gray Allison (July 23, 1991)

David L. Allen, PhD

PROFESSOR AND DEAN OF THE ADRIAN ROGERS CENTER FOR BIBLICAL PREACHING

Mid-America is pleased to introduce Dr. David L. Allen who has joined our team as Distinguished Visiting Professor of Practical Theology and Dean of the Adrian Rogers Center for Biblical Preaching. Please welcome him and pray for Dr. Allen as he serves in this new capacity.

SHARE WITH US YOUR PERSONAL BACKGROUND, TESTIMONY, AND FAMILY.

I grew up in Rome, Georgia, and came to faith in Christ early in life. God called me to preach when I was a junior in high school. I received a BA degree from The Criswell College in 1978, the MDIV degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1981, and the PhD in Humanities with a major in linguistics from the University of Texas at Arlington. My first wife died of cancer several years ago. God has blessed me with four children and eight grandchildren. God in His goodness brought Kate and me together, and we have been married six years.

WHAT IS YOUR PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND AND MINISTRY MISSION?

While I was in college and seminary, I served as the Youth Pastor of the then new church plant Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas. Upon graduation, I accepted the call to pastor my first church in north Dallas and served there for 16 years. I then accepted the position of the W. A. Criswell Chair of Expository Preaching at the Criswell College in Dallas where I served six years. During that time, I also pastored my second church, MacArthur Boulevard Baptist Church in Irving, Texas. In 2004, I became Professor of Preaching, Dean of the School of Theology, and Director of the Center for Biblical Preaching at Southwestern Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. After 12 years in the role as Dean, I became the founding Dean of the School of Preaching

at Southwestern and the Distinguished Professor of Preaching.

I concluded my time at Southwestern in the summer of 2022. All total, I have taught preaching for more than 35 years—13 years adjunctively while pastoring and 22 years full-time.

In 2021, I launched PreachingCoach, a non-profit ministry to come alongside pastors, Bible teachers, and other ministry leaders in a partnership of training and mentoring. As a part of PreachingCoach, I have a website, preachingcoach.com, offer eBooks on aspects of preaching, a weekly podcast, workshops on preaching, speak at conferences, and I have several coaching clients, including pastors in the United States and other countries.

PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR ROLE AT MID-AMERICA AND WHAT YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH.

I could not be more excited about my new role at Mid-America!

I have always had the highest respect for Mid-America Seminary and count it a wonderful privilege to serve alongside such a gifted and committed faculty, administration, and president. My heart’s desire is to continue, through my teaching, speaking, and other ministries, my passion for expository preaching and be a part of the next exciting phase of growth at Mid-America!

WHAT EXCITES YOU MOST ABOUT MID-AMERICA’S FUTURE?

My greatest joy and excitement is to be a part of the training of the next generation of God’s preachers who come through Mid-America Seminary, and the fostering of biblical preaching through conferences and workshops sponsored by the Adrian Rogers Center for Biblical Preaching. The administration, students, faculty, staff, alums, and friends of this great institution are outstanding,...and I am honored to be a part of this great legacy and future!

GET TO KNOW THE MID-AMERICA TEAM

OUR GREAT COMMISSION MAP AND COMPASS

BY JOHN CHARPING, PHD CHAIRMAN OF THE MISSIONS DEPARTMENT

Do It Yourself (DIY) shows are amazing— you can build, remodel, or complete any project in an hour’s time, and it always turns out perfect, right? This simply does not match reality. Still in doubt? Just Google, “Pinterest Fails.”

The reality of doing ministry is precisely the same. What seems clear and simple in a book or course quickly becomes messy and unclear out on the streets. A few years ago, when we were living overseas, we were planning on having a retreat for several of our teams. The retreat was going to be entitled “Clarity in the Chaos,” in which we were going to look at the messiness of walking in the Spirit on the field, the messiness of evangelism, the messiness of discipleship, and the messiness of planting churches.

Without a map or a grid, it is easy to get lost and spend years walking in circles going nowhere. If we are going to engage unreached peoples and places with the Gospel, we might need to ask, “Can I get a map and a compass?”

THE SIX CORE TASKS OF CHURCH PLANTING—THE MAP

Rerouting . . . make a U-turn and proceed to the route. Have you experienced Siri’s kind correction when you get off track? Whether it be Siri or, before that, a Garmin GPS or, even before that, a Rand McNally spiral bound map, we all need help in knowing how to get from point A to point B.

The “Six Core Tasks of Church Planting” provide a basic map to guide a missionary along the continuum from entering a new community, sharing the Gospel, discipling new and maturing believers, forming healthy churches, developing local leaders, and exiting to new communities while maintaining a healthy connection with that maturing church (see imb.org/missionschurch-planting). This “map” lays out the big picture of the missionary task and helps one chart the course in the right direction.

A MAP AND A COMPASS WORK TOGETHER

Having a map is wonderful, and finding where you are on that map and how to get to where you want

to be is also necessary. While a map provides the grid, a compass is a portable guide that keeps you on point as you make your way from point A to point B. When you don’t know where you are on a map, you can triangulate your position using a compass. To triangulate your position, you will need three points of reference.

TRIANGULATING OUR GREAT COMMISSION POSITION

Triangulation works on pinpointing three points of reference and evaluating one’s position based on his/ her relationship in regard to those points. To discover where we are and what we need to be about on our “map,” we have these three points of reference to keep us on track:

REFERENCE POINT 1—A GROWING CONFIDENCE IN THE SPIRIT OF GOD

The first reference point essential to navigating our way in the work is to have a growing confidence in the Spirit of God. This is a growing conviction of the necessity and sufficiency of the Holy Spirit for life and work. This is an understanding that life and work require God Himself, resident in a believer. This results in a life filled with the presence of God—a relationship of walking with God and being God’s man/woman.

Confidence in the Lord enables you to anticipate His activity in every aspect of the work. In your obedience, it allows you to rest in His sufficiency to do only what He can do. How could you ever be able to serve Him without the understanding that it is Christ in you Who works mightily (Colossians 1:27–29)?

REFERENCE POINT 2—A GROWING COMPETENCE IN THE WAYS OF GOD

The second reference point is to have a growing competence in the Ways of God. In other words, we need a growing understanding of a biblical missiology, understanding His ways in each area of the work. This results in a life aligned with the ways of God, working with God in His redemptive work according to His means.

Competency here provides guidance for how to enter new communities, share the Gospel, disciple believers, form healthy churches, develop leaders,

and exit well. How would you ever know what to do without God’s Word being your guide (Psalm 111:2; 143:5; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16–17)?

REFERENCE POINT 3—A GROWING CONSECRATION TO THE ETERNAL PURPOSE OF GOD’S GLORY

The third reference point is a growing consecration to the eternal purpose of God’s glory. As we get glimpses of His glory, the value of earthly things pale in comparison. His glory makes surrendering to His will easy and elicits a desire to be a part of His eternal purpose (Isaiah 6:8). This results in a life of worship.

A person cannot regularly meet with Jesus and remain the same. Consecration is where we take stock of things. It’s where we recognize that we have crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts (Galatians 5:24). It is where the cares of this world no longer have a hold on us (Mark 4:19). It is where we consciously lay aside anything that will keep us from being wholly His (Hebrews 12:1–2). It is where we desire “that in all things He might have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18). How could you not be surrendered to Him after having seen His glory (2 Corinthians 4:4–18)?

As we work within each of the six core tasks, may our lives be filled with His life (confidence), aligned with His ways (competence), and zealous for His glory (consecration).

John Charping, PhD

CHAIRMAN OF THE MISSIONS DEPARTMENT

Mid-America is pleased to introduce Dr. John Charping who has joined our team as Chairman of the Missions Department and Professor of Missions. Please welcome him and pray for Dr. Charping and his family as they transition into and serve in this new capacity.

SHARE WITH US YOUR PERSONAL BACKGROUND, TESTIMONY, AND FAMILY.

I grew up in the foothills of the Carolinas. The Lord saved me at age 13 and called me into the ministry at age 16. My wife, Stephanie, and I have been married since June 1998. We have four children: Rebekah, Hudson, Zane, and Ian.

WHAT IS YOUR PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND AND MINISTRY MISSION?

I serve as Pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church of Germantown, Tennessee. Previous to this role, I spent most of my ministry years in cross-cultural work with the International Mission Board, SBC, training church planters and developing evangelism and discipleship tools in South Asia, Southeast Asia, Richmond, Virginia, and Cochrane, Canada.

My publications include a book on discipleship, Foundations in Christ, 2018; an article on teaching the key components of church planting, “Church Planting and Rice Farming,” Evangelical Missions Quarterly, Fall 2011; and the contribution of a chapter, “How to Witness to Your Hindu Friends,” in How to Share Christ with Your Friends of Another Faith by Jeff Brawner, PhD, 2012.

I earned my undergraduate degree from North Greenville University in Tigerville, South Carolina, and both graduate degrees, MDIV and PhD, at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary.

PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR ROLE AT MID-AMERICA AND WHAT YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH.

In Acts 19, through providence and persecution, the Apostle Paul moved from speaking in the synagogue to teaching in the school of Tyrannus. It is during his time there that it was reported by Luke that, “All who dwelt in Asia heard the Word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks” (Acts 19:10). What a wonderful outcome—the whole province of Asia saturated with the Gospel such that it could be described that all, Jews and Gentiles, heard the Word!

As the Chairman of the Missions Department for MidAmerica, it is my desire that students would not only be equipped to understand their Great Commission responsibility, but also grow in their Great Commission competencies. My prayer is that the impact of their lives and ministries would be such that all the Mid-South, “Jews and Greeks,” would hear the Word of the Lord, and that as students graduate and leave, they would take the Gospel, “To all the world for Jesus’ sake.”

WHAT EXCITES YOU MOST ABOUT MID-AMERICA’S FUTURE?

Centered in one of the largest distribution centers in America, MidAmerica is positioned for impact—from the local neighborhoods to the nations. The Great Commission culture of the Mid-South is healthy and growing. From the local Mid-South Baptist Association—comprised of nearly 180 local churches, among which are 15 new church plants this year alone—to other church planting networks, such as the 242 Network and No Place Left Memphis, God’s people are following Him into the harvest fields.

Mid-America is poised to encourage and equip church leaders and church planters to come alongside these efforts.

“ MEET OUR STUDENTS

Our Student Life office asked students, “What are you excited about for this school year?” Here are a few of their answers...

GEORGI PENN }

JUNIOR,

BA IN BIBLICAL COUNSELING

“I am grateful for a school family that constantly aims to pursue the Lord. I’m looking forward to another year of spiritual encouragement and knowledge shared!”

€ KACIE NEWSOME

SENIOR, BA IN CHRISTIAN STUDIES

“I am so excited for the opportunities to welcome new students. I look forward to having classes with some of my favorite professors. I am looking forward to the opportunities to bond with my friends and make new friends.”

~ ANDREW ENZOR

MDIV

IN PASTORAL MINISTRY

“I’m excited to take Greek... again... maybe. I might just be terrified of the master’s class in comparison with the already difficult bachelor’s. Nonetheless, I’m excited to have classes with friends and hang out when I can.”

SMITH €

JUNIOR, BA IN BIBLICAL COUNSELING

“I’m so excited to be on Student Council as the Women’s Representative for 2022–2023 school year! I’m continuing my Greek studies—a language I’ve fallen in love with thanks to Dr. Lewis’ Beginning Greek class—I’m also coleading a Bible study for any and all College students for the second year in a row and can’t wait to see what fun activities Student Life has planned for us!”

ELIZABETH

| CATHY DANAM

SENIOR, BA IN BIBLICAL COUNSELING

“I am excited about all the activities lined up by the Student Council! Especially the fall fest, cookout, and the Christmas party!”

AMY RHODES €

MDIV IN BIBLICAL COUNSELING

| CODY WILLIAMSON

JUNIOR,

BA IN BIBLICAL COUNSELING

“I am excited to continue participating in student activities so I can get to know other students better. I am also excited to get to come up with new activities for students to do.”

JUNIOR, BS IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

€ EMMITT MCKENZIE

JUNIOR, BA IN CHRISTIAN STUDIES

“I am excited to share of the daily evangelistic opportunities every week in Chapel but also be encouraged by others who faithfully evangelize.

I absolutely love the time we come together to worship King Jesus Christ in our weekly worship hour!“

“I am excited about getting to know everyone better, hearing more evangelism testimonies, and growing in God’s Word.”

ELIZABETH FRIZZELL €

“I am excited about the fun activities with all our students and professors that Student Life has planned for us!”

WHAT IS BIBLICAL COUNSELING?

BY JOHN BABLER, PHD CHAIRMAN OF THE BIBLICAL COUNSELING DEPARTMENT

In simple terms, biblical counseling is ministering Scripture to those who face struggles in life or who desire wisdom or God’s direction. It is based upon an understanding that God’s Word is sufficient to help people (lost or saved) in their struggles and far superior to any of the world’s wisdom so commonly used to help people. Biblical counseling is not a new concept. There are examples throughout the pages of Scripture where God’s Word was cited in instructive and corrective ways to both individuals and groups. There are also examples throughout the history of the church of the utilization of Scripture by pastors and others to provide encouragement and admonition to members of the flock. Unfortunately, there was a drift away from trusting God’s Word in counseling, and most in the church shirked their responsibility to care for hurting people and turned to the therapeutic culture of the world. In the world, counseling had become a formal, professional discipline (actually, many disciplines: psychiatry, psychology, social work, marriage and family counseling, etc.) and was often either imported into the church or pastors and others referred Christians to the world’s “experts” for help.

In the midst of this sad state, Jay E. Adams “re-discovered” biblical counseling. In his book Competent to Counsel, first published in 1970, Adams utilized the term “nouthetic” (related to the Greek New Testament word that is most frequently translated “admonish”) to describe counseling that focuses on ministering Scripture by speaking the truth in love to those in need of counsel. The Nouthetic Counseling field has grown dramatically since Dr. Adams wrote that

first book in 1970. Just recently, MidAmerica cosponsored the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC) Annual Conference with over 3,000 participating. Even though biblical counseling has grown, there continue to be many voices within the church advocating for the necessity or importance of utilizing the world’s wisdom through the behavioral sciences to effectively provide counsel. The Biblical Counseling program at MidAmerica was begun in 2015 by Jay Adams himself, and we are proud to emphasize the sufficiency and superiority of God’s Word for the counseling task in contrast to those who advocate for the use of the world’s wisdom.

BIBLICAL COUNSELING EDUCATION

Having taught at the seminary level for more than 30 years, I have watched ministry training change and evolve. The opportunities for education have expanded dramatically with the offering of online degrees and flexible scheduling. Those called to ministry have many options available to them as they follow God’s calling. Ministry education must stay lashed to a solid foundation and not follow worldly trends.

Mid-America has a commitment to stay true to the founding principles of focusing and building upon the Bible, missions, and evangelism. Biblical counseling is a vital part of a ministry preparation that is committed to this foundation. We continue to build on the foundation Dr. Adams laid and are proud to offer fully accredited Biblical Counseling degrees at the bachelor, master, and doctoral level. Our commitment as a Seminary and College to the Bible, missions, and evangelism partnered with our commitment to train students to effectively minister God’s Word through counseling make Mid-America the best place for you to receive your biblical counseling training.

Mid-America’s Expanding Impact in Biblical Counseling

It’s been an eventful summer for Mid-America’s Biblical Counseling programs. Under the guiding hand of Dr. John Babler, we’ve seen three major developments.

ACBC Certified Training Center

The Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC) approved Mid-America as a Certified Training Center.

Cosponsor of ACBC Annual Conference

For the second time, MidAmerica cosponsored the Annual Conference of the ACBC, attended by 3,000 participants from across the nation.

Launch of Counseling by The Book Live!

In addition to five fully accredited degree programs from BA to PhD, Mid-America offers two certificate programs. One, Counseling by The Book, was developed by Dr. Babler and is available online. This fall, Dr. Babler also offered the program live at Mid-America, enabling participants to fulfill an ACBC certification requirement in just four weekends. He’ll offer the live version again this spring. Visit mabts.edu/cbtb.

LEARN MORE AT mabts.edu/ biblical-counseling

MID-AMERICA WOMEN ENJOY FELLOWSHIP AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH

BY DR. CANDI FINCH PROFESSOR, ADMISSIONS DIRECTOR, AND DEAN OF WOMEN

One of God’s great gifts to His children is the community of believers. We can help sharpen, spur on, and build each other up (Proverbs 27:17; Hebrews 10:24; 1 Thessalonians 5:11). For so many, the years at Bible college and seminary are a pivotal time where life-long friendships are established. Like-minded believers who are running hard after the Lord have the opportunity to meet and encourage one another.

For the last several decades, the Women’s Institute at Mid-America has been a key ministry connecting women on campus under the exceptional direction of Lee Ann Spradlin and Susan Thompson. This Institute was designed initially for the wives of our college and seminary students to grow in their relationship with the Lord and prepare them for various ministry fields.

OVER THE YEARS AS MORE WOMEN HAVE JOINED THE MID-AMERICA FAMILY as students, the Institute has become a way for students, wives of students and professors, and women in our Memphis community to come together for training and fellowship. This fall, the Women’s Institute class on Monday nights dug into the topic of Biblical Womanhood. The course examined the lives and ministries of women in the Bible as well

as key passages for understanding God’s beautiful and unique plan for women throughout the ages.

In addition, several of our students organized a women’s worship night called “Renew” to kick off the semester. Ladies from the community joined our current and former students for a night of prayer and worship centered on Isaiah 40:31a, “Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.” The delight for God’s Word that the ladies of Mid-America have is contagious, and I am thrilled to see women who want to be equipped in biblically appropriate ways to advance God’s Kingdom. These are exciting days at Mid-America!

Next steps? Simply call our Admissions office at 901-751-3060 or email admissions@mabts.edu. We’ll answer any questions you have about applying and transferring courses. We’d love to talk with you and help you continue your journey.

Maybe it was 30 years ago. Or 20 or 10 or 5 or just last year. Perhaps you have a semester under your belt or a year or two or need just a few courses to finish up. But then life got in the way. Is God leading you to finish what you started? Finish the course at Mid-America. Whether it’s college or grad school, Mid-America has 38 degree programs, including ministry, business, and leadership programs. All fully accredited. Explore your options. All it takes is a simple phone call or email—no obligation, just opportunity. Today is your day!

MID-AMERICA’S COLORADO PRISON INITIATIVE PUBLICLY LAUNCHES

After nearly two years of planning, preparation, and prayer, on July 28 Mid-America publicly launched its second prison degree program, the Colorado Prison Initiative at the Limon Correctional Facility in Limon, Colorado. The effort has been directed by MidAmerica professor Dr. Daniel L. Jones, and the event was attended by MidAmerica President, Dr. Mike Spradlin, and Executive Vice President and College Dean, Dr. Brad Thompson.

Mid-America’s first program, the Arkansas Prison Initiative at the Varner Supermax Unit in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, was established in 2019. Both programs offer a fully accredited Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies to inmates.

Inmates who participate receive an education tailored to equip them to minister to other inmates. As Mid-America students, the exact academic expectations and moral standards of Mid-America apply. Upon graduation, the department of corrections invites eligible inmates to participate as field ministers in the prison system.

Tasked with various assignments, the department of corrections uses these field ministers to help promote moral rehabilitation within the prison they serve.

MID-AMERICA ANNOUNCES 2022 ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR, DR. DEREK WESTMORELAND

Alumni who are active in ministry and connected with the Mid-America community have always been a distinctive in our school family. From among these many dedicated alumni, Mid-America has recognized Dr. Derek Westmoreland, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Millington, Tennessee, as the 2022 Alumnus of the Year.

Mid-America President Dr. Mike Spradlin said about the honoree, “Dr. Westmoreland is a stellar example of the kind of graduate that Mid-America produces—committed to the local church, passionate about missions and evangelism, and dedicated to preaching the Gospel. He represents thousands of other alumni who are out on the field, representing

Mid-America well, and most importantly, lifting high the Cross, proclaiming Christ’s love, and bearing His name.”

Dr. Westmoreland received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Union University (1998), a Master of Divinity Degree from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary (2002), and a Doctor of Ministry Degree in Expository Preaching from Union University (2014).

He believes the pastor is to honor the Lord by leading, feeding, overseeing, and protecting the flock to which he has been called. He is passionate about God and His Word. He delights in preaching God’s Word, seeing souls saved, seeing lives transformed, marriages reconciled, strongholds defeated, and lives lived on mission with Jesus. Derek and his wife Tiffany have four children: Andrew, Matthew, Ally, and Luke.

Scan this code to read an article on the MidAmerica blog from Dr. Daniel Jones about prison ministry.

Dr. Derek Westmoreland

GOING THE DISTANCE

EXCELLING THROUGH THE MOMENTUM OF OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY, MID-AMERICA IS REALLY GOING PLACES DURING 2023 WITH FRESH PLANS, NEW EVENTS, UNPRECEDENTED OPPORTUNITIES, AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THE VALUES THAT HAVE BROUGHT US THIS FAR.

SEVEN OPPORTUNITIES AND DEVELOPMENTS

BY VAN GRAY CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

There is much activity in the Development department at Mid-America! Let me tell you about some of the things we’re doing:

1We’ve just announced a new fundraising effort to meet the growing needs for “The Next 50 Years: Lighting the Way, Advancing the Mission,” our first fundraising campaign in over 30 years. We need to double the student population to meet the growing need for biblically equipped leaders with a passion for the Gospel. There are currently 3,500 open pulpits in the 12-state area of the Southeastern United States. Who will fill them? What will be their commitment to the Scriptures and evangelism?

Please join us in prayer for additional funding from those with a heart for the Gospel and MidAmerica. We are seeking $5 million by December 2023 to meet currently recognized needs and for a small “nest egg” to enable us to engage near-term opportunities as they are more fully developed. We are praying for new churches, organizations, businesses, and individuals to help us meet this great need.

2In Numbers 8:23–26, the Lord told Moses that the priests must retire by a certain age, but they may assist the younger priests in fulfilling their obligations to the Lord

As mature believers, we may, in like fashion, assist our younger brothers and sisters in meeting their obligation to the Lord. I ask you to consider recruiting two believing friends who also have a heart for the Gospel to join us in equipping biblical leaders with a passion for the Gospel. In doing so, many more will be sent “behind enemy lines” to rescue those who do not yet know Jesus.

Let them know that our students alone have averaged 65 professions of faith each week for the last 50 years, and that our professors publicly sign our statement of faith and belief each year (not just when they are hired). Doing so keeps our commitment to the Scriptures and evangelism fresh, so that we do not drift theologically, as have so many other seminaries.

3I have driven over 37,000 miles to visit 321 of you, in 25 of the 32 states where you live. Of the remaining seven states, I will visit three (Arizona, California, and Colorado) in November and the remaining four (Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming) next May, when weather better “cooperates” with a Tennessee driver!

4Did you know we have active degree programs in prisons in Arkansas and Colorado? We have 62 enrolled in the College. They are all imprisoned “for life without parole” and will serve as resident missionaries! As inmatestudents, they cannot earn money; attending school is their job, but without pay. If you would like to provide some pocket money for these students, make a note on your check “for AR Prison Ministry” or ”for CO Prison Ministry,” then mail to Mid-America as you would any donation (Hebrews 13:3).

5We will begin our semi-annual Speaker Series and monthly Christian Artist Performances next year, right here at Mid-America. These events will be offered to the entire community for their information and entertainment, and to introduce them to the facilities, purpose, and mission of Mid-America Seminary and College.

6Last month we finally received our official permits to erect double-sided, digital, programmable signs on our property along Interstate 40 and Appling Road. It took 11 months to get approval! Please join us in prayer for those who will fund them. One will offer 64.3 million views each year to those traveling I-40! What an opportunity for the school to inform the motoring public of who we are, what we’re doing, and what’s going on at Mid-America. We hope to have it in service by end of February 2023, just in time for the Mid-America Passion Play, with performances March 30–April 2. We pray that many will be saved with each performance!

7If you would like for me to speak at your church or Sunday School, I would consider it an honor to represent Mid-America to your group for 10 minutes or longer (your choice, of course!). Just give me a call at 901-262-4314.

IN A WORLD OF MEDIA CHAOS, THERE’S A LIGHT YOU CAN TRUST.

Introducing the new Mid-America Blog. Informational. Instructional. Inspirational.

There’s no shortage of viewpoints out there. So why create another blog? Because with all the voices out there, it can be confusing and discouraging knowing whom to trust. We started our blog for the same reason we started our Seminary: to give you a source you can trust. Biblical. Thoughtful. LifeChanging. It’s the Mid-America of blogs. Check it out and subscribe at mabts.edu/blog. Still Lighting the Way.